"San Francisco Church ruins"
Ruinas de San Francisco Tip by msocolin

It was built in 1731 as a residence for the Company of Jesus in colonial Mendoza. In 1798 it was given to the Franciscan order, after the jesuits had been expelled from America by order of the spanish crown.

In one of the church's chapels there was an altar with the Imagen de la Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo and the Baston de Mando del Gral. San Martin (San Martin's command baton), which had been given by the heroe in 1818. From this temple, the image of the virgin was taken in procession to meet the Ejercito Libertador (Libertator's Army) at the Plaza Mayor (now the Pedro del Castillo square) for its proclamation in fron of the Matriz Church. After the 1861 earthquake these relics where rescued from the ruins.

Nowadays the remains of the typical wide walls and arches of jesuit churches from the 18th centeury can be seen. The ruins are being restored so they can stand on their own. The ruins of San Francisco are the only visible testimonies of the colonial time and of the impact of the earthquake that destroyed the city in 1861.

There are guided tours from monday to friday from 9am to 6pm. The guides are the archaeologists that are working there to preserve and study the ruins.